Saturday American Pharoah Stakes presented by DK Horse For 2-year-olds, the last qualifying match in California for the Fanduel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile was presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance and the first PrEP Race of the Golden State assigned points to Kentucky Derby, presented by Woodford Reserve (10-5-3-2-1).
Hall of Fame -Trainer Bob Baffert has the most victories in this race with 13 and has taken six of the last seven editions. Furthermore, the race is named after one of Baffert’s best runners of all time, who won what when the leader Stakes was mentioned with 3 ¼ lengths in 2014, missed the BC Juvenile because of injury, and then won the Triple Crown and won the 2015 Breeders’ Cup Classic as 3-year-old.
It is no surprise that Baffert trains four of the six participants in Saturday’s renewal in Santa Anita Park, who none of them are his leading youth perspective, del Mar Futurity winner Brant.
1. Desert Gate: Won his first two starts with open lengths, including an eruption of 8 ¾ length in the six Furlong Best Pal Stakes in Del Mar. Then, despite a troubled journey, he finished a solid second in the Zeven-Furlong del Mar Futurity behind Stablemate Brant. Must just sit behind the front runners to set up his stretchrally.
JOCKEY: Juan Hernandez; TRAINER: Bob Baffert
2. Intrepid: A distant fourth in his debut (won by Brant) and improved considerably in the beginning number two, in which he took a two-mile, a mile maiden race in del Mar with 3 ¼ lengths above Plutarch. Had a solid speed figure from his first start to second and will need an even bigger one to be a factor.
JOCKEY: Hector Berrios; TRAINER: Jeff Mullins
3. Plutarch: Philosophy Majors have their choice in this foal that was second behind Intrepido in his debut and then again second when the grass tries in the Del Mar Juvenile Turf in a mile. Very well bred because his mother (mother) 2015 is champion 3-year-old marefolding wind.
JOCKEY: Kazushi Kimura; TRAINER: Bob Baffert
4. Civil freedom: Introdes 0-out-2 after he completed a distant second behind Brant in his 5 ½ Furlong debut (after dueling with Balboa in a hot early pace) and then third to Brant and Desert Gate in the Del Mar Futurity. He had a broad journey in the last race and was bumped into the play. There is a pot of pot, although this is a difficult place to secure that first victory.
JOCKEY: Antonio Fresu; TRAINER: Doug O’Neill
5. Balboa: Thirdly behind Brant and Civil Liberty In his premiere, Balboa then returned to 6 ½ Furlongs in Del Mar in mid -August and cried with 7 ¾ lengths. He then weakened to finish fifth of six in the Del Mar Futurity and will have blinkers removed for this race.
JOCKEY: Umberto Rispoli; TRAINER: Bob Baffert
6. Kristofferson: Property group known as The Avengers celebrated a victory “For The Good Times” with this debut runner in honor of the late songwriting legend at the end of August. Kristofferson conquered a rough start and pace pressure to rule with three-quarters of a length in that six-follow sprint with a fast time. Sold for $ 1.15 million as a yearling, so expectations are high. Baffert’s first-call driver Juan Hernandez, however, stays with Desert Gate.
JOCKEY: Mike Smith; TRAINER: Bob Baffert
The choice: Desert gate
Live Longshot: Plutarch
Trifecta: 1-6-3
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